Stephen Gately’s brother Tony @AnthonyGately is helping raise awareness with CRY in Steo’s memory

boyzonemafia:

Tony Gately: My sister has the same heart condition that killed our Stephen

Campaign … Tony Gately

By SIMON HOUSTON

Published: Today at 00:42

WHEN Boyzone star Stephen Gately died suddenly on holiday in 2009 his close-knit family were left devastated.

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But his heartbroken siblings and their children faced even more anguish when they underwent tests to discover if they too were at risk.

And in a cruel twist, it turned out that Stephen’s sister Michelle Carr has the same heart condition that killed the popular singer.

Now Stephen’s younger brother Tony has set up a memorial fund in his brother’s name and is competing in this year’s Great Scottish Run to raise money and awareness.

Stephen died aged 33 in Majorca of sudden arrythmia death syndrome, also known as sudden adult death syndrome.

Tony is urging anyone who thinks they could be at risk to get checked.

The 30-year-old, who lives in Edinburgh, said: “After Stephen passed away the whole family had to get checked because we didn’t know if it was hereditary.

“It took me months to go. I suppose I was scared of getting bad news. It turned out my sister Michelle has it but she’s caught it and is on medication to control it.”

Bus driver Tony, who lives with his wife Claire and sons, Josh, eight, Adam, six and four-month-old Harry, said the singer looked as fit as ever when he last saw him alive, during a tour at Glasgow’s SECC.

But he warned even the healthiest people can be struck down without warning. He explained: “Stephen was as fit as a fiddle, he was training really hard.

Sad … Michelle was devastated at Stephen’s death

“But as was shown with footballer Fabrice Muamba, you don’t have to lie around the house eating take-aways every night to have a heart condition. You can be super-fit.

“A simple check-up could have saved Stephen’s life and I would urge everyone to get checked out if they think they might have a problem.

“All our kids have to be screened because it could skip a generation. It’s very worrying.

“I received letters and emails from people all over Europe who have lost husbands, brothers and fathers to cardiac conditions and I just thought, ‘it’s time to do something’.”

Stephen’s family has been thinking about the memorial fund for two years and Tony is delighted it’s up and running.

But he admits parents Margaret and Martin, brothers Mark, 41, and Alan, 37, and Michelle, 40, are struggling to cope. And he revealed he can’t bring himself to read Stephen’s novel, The Tree Of Seasons, which was published after his death.

He said: “We are all still grieving. I haven’t even read his book. That’s part of him I don’t want to let go, it was nearly the last thing he did.

“Claire has read it to Josh and Adam and they love it. Stephen based one of the characters on Josh.

“At the show at Glasgow’s SECC, Stephen and the lads flew over the audience on special cables and he came down and picked the boys up, which will live on in their memory.

“I was so proud. I looked up to Stephen so much, he was brilliant.”

Tony, who hopes to launch a singing career, has released a song in his brother’s memory, called He’s Still Around, written by Stephen’s friend Steve Coxshall, who also manages boyband Blue.

Poignantly, Stephen — known as Steo to pals — heard an early version of the tune and loved it.

Tony said: “It was originally called She’s Still Around, but I changed the lyrics. I recorded it last weekend in London and it was so hard standing in the booth singing because that’s how I remember Stephen.

“I feel as though something is pushing me towards it.” Tony’s running the 10k at the Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run in September in aid of charity Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY).

Boyzone star Keith Duffy has tweeted fans to sponsor him, writing: “Steo Gately’s Baby Brother making a difference, please support him!”

CRY’s Alison Cox said: “We are grateful for Tony’s support.”

Visit c-r-y.org.uk The Bank of Scotland Great Scottish Run takes place on September 1 and 2. Choose from children’s races, 10k or half marathon. It costs from £20 for the 10k and £25 for the half marathon. To enter go to runglasgow.org

Read more: http://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/scotsol/homepage/scotlandfeatures/4349587/Tony-Gately-My-sister-has-the-same-heart-condition-that-killed-our-Stephen.html#ixzz1wawtn4tk

Ronan Keating and estranged wife Yvonne reunite for son Jack’s confirmation #boyzone

shejustgotstronger:

nothing-without-you:

boyzonediary:

READ MORE ON http://www.dailymail.co.uk

It’s only been a few weeks since they announced they had separated after 14 years of marriage.

But it appears Irish pop star Ronan Keating and his estranged wife Yvonne are determined to stay friends and raise their three children together.

The exes made their first public appearance since the split in the Dublin suburb of Malahide today as they attended their teenage son Jack’s confirmation.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2135137/Ronan-Keating-estranged-wife-Yvonne-reunite-son-Jacks-confirmation.html#ixzz1tBLEKbcG

Oh my God Jack is looking so much like Ro did when he joined the band!

He does look JUST like him!

Though I do sort of wish the press would leave them alone for things like this. Just let Jack have his day!

Scary! He’s looking more like him every day.

And I agree, I wish the press would respect these sort of days and leave their kids be. But obviously, the media are going to be all over Ronan and Yvonne being in the same air space. *Rolls eyes*.

Gorgeous Photoshoot ! Ronan Keating, Live magazine UK, April 22, 2012 

boyzonediary:

            

            

            

            

Ronan Keating is photographed for Live magazine on April 15, 2012 in London, England. (Photo by Charlie Gray/Contour by Getty Images)

Lush lush lush!

Ronan Keating and estranged wife Yvonne reunite for son Jack’s confirmation #boyzone

boyzonediary:

READ MORE ON http://www.dailymail.co.uk

It’s only been a few weeks since they announced they had separated after 14 years of marriage.

But it appears Irish pop star Ronan Keating and his estranged wife Yvonne are determined to stay friends and raise their three children together.

The exes made their first public appearance since the split in the Dublin suburb of Malahide today as they attended their teenage son Jack’s confirmation.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2135137/Ronan-Keating-estranged-wife-Yvonne-reunite-son-Jacks-confirmation.html#ixzz1tBLEKbcG

Oh my God Jack is looking so much like Ro did when he joined the band!

Niamh’s work for autism to be honoured by Keith Duffy #boyzone

boyzonediary:

Actor and ex-Boyzone star Keith Duffy is to travel to West Cork next month to unveil a memorial to a teenager who worked tirelessly for autistic children.

Niamh Cadogan, 17, lost her battle with leukaemia last month but school friends at Mercy Heights Secondary School in Skibbereen are planning to mark her short but productive life on May 15.

Before her death, Niamh helped lead a major fundraising drive for local autistic children through one of the school’s Transition Year companies.

They collected hundreds of old mobile phones which they exchanged for 11 iPods, two iPads and two laptops, which were given as teaching aids to autistic children attending the local Rossa College and St Patrick’s National School.

In addition, they also helped supply applications for picture exchange communications systems (PECS), which are particularly useful learning tools for autistic children.

The selfless teenager, whose younger brother Stephen has autism, won a number of awards for her charity work. She won a Garda Youth Achievement Award and the National Lions Youth Award.

Days before she died, she was supposed to take part in the international Lions competition in Birmingham in England.

Niamh’s mother Jean said her daughter became friendly with Mr Duffy after meeting him after he performed in a play at the Everyman Theatre, Cork, last Christmas.

Mr Duffy is also patron of Irish Autism Action, and he will be accompanied to the memorial opening at Niamh’s former school by Kevin Whelan, the autism organisation’s chief executive. The school will unveil a special bench and plant a cherry blossom tree in Niamh’s memory.

“The bench will have Niamh’s name on it,” said Jean. “It will also have a heart, which signifies her love of school, and a jigsaw which is the symbol of autism. It will also have pictures of cows. She had a fascination with them.”

Mr Duffy and Mr Whelan plan to visit Niamh’s grave before going to the autistic units at the local schools.

Jean said her family had received tremendous support from the staff and pupils of Mercy Heights after her daughter died, and felt it was fitting that the memorial would be unveiled at the school.

Read more: http://www.irishexaminer.com/ireland/niamhs-work-for-autism-to-be-honoured-by-star-191761.html#ixzz1tBNvktoj